Jazz For Cardinals?

by VJ Vitkowsky | February 16, 2007 7:45 AM | | Comments (9)

HowDixon.JPGHenry Dixon (pictured) was one of the ballplayers who helped raise money to buy the burned-out property at 320 Ashmun some 30 years ago. He helped rehabilitate the building with his teammates, who raised the money to buy the space by throwing dances and events. He still sweeps the floor and unloads boxes of liquor. In days to come, Dixon said he anticipates having to do a lot more painting, too. Like many of the homeowners and residents who showed up to a public meeting Thursday night at the Cardinals Cafe, Dixon said he and the other owners are trying to figure out how to preserve the history of the club and lose the trouble associated with it at the same time.

Local real estate investor Joyce Bellamy, who bought the club in November after it went up for foreclosure, called the meeting to ask the community what they would like to do with the space. It is one of five clubs the city of New Haven is trying to close down because of complaints from neighbors.

Ric Jennings, who works down the street at Urban Entrepreneur as well as at WYBC, said it is important to keep the Cardinal Cafe open, because too many black entertainment establishments are disappearing in New Haven.

“I do want to make a point that downtown, there is no place for us to go,” Jennings said. “When we do get a club it’s only ever on a Wednesday night. Not a single club downtown will give us a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night.”

Beverly Barnes, who lives nearby on Admiral Street, said she feels conflicted about Cardinals. On the one hand, she said she enjoys getting a beer at the bar before 10. On the other hand, she said she is tired of having to scare people away from her neighborhood after hours.

Rather than a bar, some residents wanted to see a teen center or a laundromat. Dixwell Alderman Drew King agreed the city needs a teen center, but said it would probably not make any money.

King said the bar could survive as a live jazz club and restaurant, “to attract an older clientele.” Rumbles of approval echoed louder and longer than for any other suggestion.

Cardinals%20club2.jpgClayton Williams [pictured at left], the senior loan officer for New Haven’s Small Business Initiative, said he liked the idea of a jazz club. But he said Cardinals would not be eligible for loans from his agency if the club’s primary source of revenue is alcohol. Nor could the economic developement agency prop up a community program, like a teen center for example, if it could not make money on its own.

Bellamy (pictured in the far right), who also owns rental property in New Haven, said she plans on becoming more involved with the management of the club once it reaches its next stage.

Some residents used the first part of the meeting to voice complaints about the club. Illegal parking was by far the most common complaint from neighbors. Noise and violence also came up.

“This is a residential area,” said one neighbor. “It’s not about the bar it’s about the people that come to the bar and disrespect the residents.”

Last year, over 40 calls were made to the New Haven Police Dept regarding incidents at the Cardinal Cafe, which makes it the city’s second hottest spot for trouble, according to the City’s 2006 Public Safety statistics. Other bars that made the list include The Owls Nest, and the Taurus Cafe, Jack’s or Better, and Newt’s Cafe.







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Comments

Posted by: azaria | February 16, 2007 9:54 AM

Mr. Dixon seems to be headed in the right direction. He sees the trouble that surrounds his bar and is working to make changes. If only the owners of the other 4 bars would follow his example.

Posted by: Joyce Bellamy, Phd. | February 16, 2007 1:06 PM

I am really thinking more towards a establishment with Jazz, or maybe a jazz with a little R&B. Possibly a bar resturant.
Joyce Bellamy, Phd.

Posted by: Esbe | February 16, 2007 3:35 PM


Joyce -- some years ago a place called Malcolm's on Whitney Ave. offered real jazz and seem to attract a good spending mixed-race crowd. Firehouse 12 downtown has very avant-garde Jazz shows, and they sometimes attract a crowd, but often they are too non-traditional for a lot of jazz fans.

So, if you do open a real jazz / R&B club, don't assume that only folks from Dixwell will want to go -- you might post info online and market the club citywide. If Yale would help out with evening parking nearby, it might be part of a Dixwell Renaissance -- why should downtown be the only place attracting folks for entertainment?

Posted by: cedar hill resident | February 16, 2007 5:46 PM

Wow good old fashion Jazz.. what a great thought Jazz and poetry hmm even better thought. With all the new and younger crowds learning to appreciate these things. Marketing would play a major role in pulling this off (at least in a positive way).
I have to agree with Azaria that Dixion is at least open to ideas from the community that is the right way for all those bar to go they may be surprised that they may even walk away with a business that makes money. So kudos to you!

Posted by: annabelle blausten | February 16, 2007 9:15 PM

I feel that since the problems primarily stem from the complaints of the neighbors due to noise and crime, that perhaps if no liquor were served it would help to calm things down. I also think that if the space could be used during the daytime and one night a week as a teen center and the rest of the time as a jazz/coffee house that it could provide entertainment to a large variety of people.

Posted by: winfield | February 17, 2007 7:57 PM

The club is literally steps from Science Park. Possibly it could be developed into a restaurant for the executives to go for an offsite business lunch or dinner, while retaining the nightclub function for later. Hopefully the new owners of Science Park will work with the club to ensure mutual success. After all, a successful Cardinals Club will help them fill their empty retail space too.

Posted by: Willie Williams Jr | February 17, 2007 10:39 PM

I Live In Fair Haven Heights. The Fact of The Matter Is That This Is 2007 NOT! 1957-1967. The Music, Automobile Mobility, Employment-Work-Jobs and Social/Political Direction of African Americans Has Changed. The Bar/Club/Cafe Does NOT! Fit In The Zoning Laws or The Good of The Citizens/Community...They Need To Relocate To A Larger Facility With Parking A Commercial/Industrial Zone. They Can Sell That Building and Buy An Abandomed Building From The City and Pay Property Taxes.
Rapid City Realtors

Posted by: Sunday | February 19, 2007 1:35 PM

Why do every thing have to be a Teen Center. Hate to say this but who is creating must of the problems with gun violence "but teens." Why not a center teaching mothers and fathers how to raise their kids.

Posted by: aaron | February 19, 2007 5:33 PM

Go, Joyce, Go!

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